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Oregon

Hiking the Spectacular Columbia River Gorge

Program No. 14936RJ
Join local experts to hike at your own pace and learn about the Columbia River Gorge, explore historic sites, take in awe-inspiring vistas and witness spectacular waterfalls.
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Walking/HikingOutdoor AdventuresRegional StudiesSmall GroupNature & Environment
Length
7 days
Rating (5)
Activity Level
Starts at
2,249

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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
7 days
6 nights
What's Included
16 meals ( 6B, 5L, 5D )
2 expert-led lectures
11 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
6 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Check-in from 4:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 4:00-5:30 p.m. After you have your room assignment, join us in the Road Scholar meeting room (ground floor near elevator across from room 101) to pick up your welcome packet containing the group roster and up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in. Remember to bring your name-tag (sent previously). Take some time to unpack, freshen up, and relax. We will gather at 5:30 p.m. to meet our fellow Road Scholars and enjoy some group socializing activities.
Dinner:
During a walk with our instructor to Cascade Locks Marine Park, we’ll orient ourselves to the town on our way to dinner. Among the highlights is the Oregon Pony, the first steam engine in the Pacific Northwest. There is also a walking bridge crossing the remains of the original shipping locks, connecting the Marine Park with 3-acre Thunder Island that was carved out of the mainland in 1890. Dinner will be provided in buffet style along the banks of the Columbia River. If you wish to ride to the park that is an option.
Evening:
Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Participants in this physically demanding and challenging program can “Choose Your Pace” between two daily hikes. Hiking distances will be at least 4 miles per day with elevation gains of up to 1200 total. Hikes and presentations will be conducted by Group Leaders and local experts. For each route, participants will need to keep up with the group’s hiking pace; most hikes can be shortened according to personal needs. Groups typically start at the same location. The Group Leader and other guides will deliver educational content on hikes during the day. Transportation will be via 15-person vans. We strongly encourage participants to bring and refill personal water bottles each day. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. We will sometimes change hikes based on the conditions and other factors. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a van; driving about 14 miles, approximately 1 hour round-trip. “Choose Your Pace” from routes around Beacon Rock, up to 4.5 miles, up to 900 feet elevation gain/loss; hiking on switchbacks cut out of the rock with handrails on the side.
Breakfast:
In the adjacent restaurant, we’ll order from a select menu with choices such as eggs, pancakes, cereal, and juice or coffee.
Morning:
After breakfast at 9:00 AM, we will gather in our meeting room to go learn more about the day and assemble our own sack lunches with sandwich, snack, and fruit choices. At 10:00 AM, we’ll set out via 15-person vans for Beacon Rock, an 848-foot monolith with views of the Bonneville Dam. On October 31, 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition arrived here and first measured tides on the river, indicating that they were nearing the ocean.
Lunch:
At the marina in Beacon Rock State Park, we’ll have the sack lunches we prepared with views of Beacon Rock and the Columbia River.
Afternoon:
Next, we’ll ride to the trailhead and begin our first hike to Wahclella Falls in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (2.0 miles round trip, 380 foot elevation gain). We will see Wahclella Falls nestled in its rock grotto before retracing our steps to the trailhead. Our instructor and Group Leader will point out plants and animals we see along the way. Next, we’ll explore Bonneville Dam with a dam Ranger. Completed in 1937, it was a showpiece of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. At the time, its single lift navigation lock was the largest in the world. We’ll learn about the dam and see how native salmon and steelhead salmon navigate fish ladders to get past the dam on their journey upstream to spawn. We’ll return to the hotel lodging with some time to freshen up and relax before dinner.
Dinner:
Join us at 6:30 p.m. in the Road Scholar meeting room for dinner from the nearby Brigham Fish market to enjoy some of the Gorge’s best salmon chowder and more.
Evening:
Returning to the hotel, we’ll have a presentation by one of our instructors about the local area. The presentation will end about 9:00 p.m.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a van; driving about 50 miles, approximately 1.5 hours round-trip. “Choose Your Pace” from routes to Coyote Wall with distances of 3.1 miles round-trip (800 feet elevation gain) to 7.5 miles (1,590 feet elevation gain); open trail through spring wildflower fields following a creek to a viewpoint above the Gorge. Multiple options for hike.
Breakfast:
Breakfast will be in the adjacent restaurant. We will then gather in our meeting room to assemble our own sack lunches with sandwich, snack, and fruit choices. Remember to bring and fill your personal water bottle to take along.
Morning:
We’ll hop into our vans and ride to the Coyote Wall trailhead. We will then hike to a sweeping view of the Columbia River Gorge through seasonal meadows and creeks.. Our instructor and Group Leader will point out plants and animals we see along the way.
Lunch:
On the trail, we’ll have the sack lunches we prepared and enjoy views of this spectacular area.
Afternoon:
Those on the shorter route will complete their loop portion of the hike back to the vans. Those who would like a longer hike longer will continue further on the trail to the plateau of Coyote Wall.
Dinner:
We will ride to historic Multnomah Falls Lodge and order from a select menu with choices of main course, salad, dessert, and beverage choices of coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase. Built in 1925, the Lodge exemplifies Cascadian-style stone and timber architecture. We’ll enjoy a fine meal in this relaxing ambience.
Evening:
Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening is at leisure.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a van; driving about 40 miles, approximately 1.25 hour round-trip. “Choose Your Pace” hike Eagle Creek/Punch Bowl Falls through a gorge to the iconic Punch Bowl Falls. Explore the Columbia River Gorge Discovery Museum.
Breakfast:
In the adjacent restaurant. We will then gather in our meeting room to assemble our own sack lunches with sandwich, snack, and fruit choices. Remember to bring and fill your personal water bottle to take along.
Morning:
We’ll ride in our vans for a short distance to Eagle Creek and the Punch Bowl Falls trailhead. This iconic waterfall view also offers insights into how a forest recovers from a forest fire. 6.4 miles or 3.8 miles and 600 or 840 ft of elevation gain. Trail is there-and-back along through a canyon.
Lunch:
On the trail, we’ll have the sack lunches we prepared and enjoy views overlooking the Columbia River.
Afternoon:
We will drive to the Columbia River Gorge Discovery Museum and have free time to explore the museum and grounds for 2-2.5 hrs in the afternoon. After the museum we will head back to Hood River. We will drive along the scenic highway and stop at Tom McCall Point for a iconic photo of the Gorge.
Dinner:
We’ll ride in the vans to Hood River. This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like in Hood River. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. There are many eateries in Hood River with food and drink ranging from simple home-style meals to gourmet offerings; outstanding wine to hand-crafted beers. In this rich agricultural region, the food is fresh and local.
Evening:
Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening is at leisure.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a van; driving about 50 miles, approximately 1 hour round-trip. “Choose Your Pace” from routes to different falls with distances of 1 mile (200 feet elevation gain) and 2.5 miles (800 feet elevation gain); dirt paths, sections on paved asphalt, sections on basalt rock cut out for the trail.
Breakfast:
In the adjacent restaurant. We will then gather in our meeting room to assemble our own sack lunches with sandwich, snack, and fruit choices. Remember to bring and fill your personal water bottle to take along.
Morning:
We will drive to the Vista House for a sweeping view from a historic landmark of the Gorge as we tour the historic waterfall highway. We will then head down into the gorge for short hike at Latourell Falls 2.4 miles and 625 elevation gain.
Lunch:
On the trail, we’ll have the sack lunches we prepared.
Afternoon:
Hike Multnomah Falls, for one of the most postcard views of the Gorge and a hike to the top. The distance varies depending on personal choice from 2.4 to 3.0 miles, and 870-920 ft elevation gain. Afterwards we’ll drive in our vans to the Horsetail trailhead then hike along Oneonta Gorge. This route will cover 2.3 miles, gain 565 elevation and pass behind a waterfall.
Dinner:
In our meeting room at the hotel, our meal will feature local pizza, salad, dessert, lemonade, water; no other beverages available, bring your own if you like.
Evening:
We’ll feature a local expert for the presentation on local history and geology that will end by about 9:00 p.m.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a van; driving about 36 miles, approximately 1 hour round-trip. “Choose Your Pace” from routes to Cape Horn with distances of 4.0 miles round-trip (200 feet elevation gain) to 5.6 miles one way with van shuttle (810 feet elevation gain); dirt trail, minimal rocks and branches.
Breakfast:
In the adjacent restaurant. We will then gather in our meeting room to assemble our own sack lunches with sandwich, snack, and fruit choices. Remember to bring and fill your personal water bottle to take along.
Morning:
We’ll ride in our vans to the Cape Horn trailhead, then hike along the routes of our choosing above Cape Horn’s basalt cliffs for views of Columbia River.
Lunch:
On the trail, we’ll have the sack lunches we prepared with views of the Columbia River and surrounding basalt layers.
Afternoon:
Depending on time in the afternoon we will make a stop for a short hike or local attraction.
Dinner:
Join us for dinner at local brewery Gorgeous Beers for a buffet style Mediterranean dinner. Non-alcoholic beverages provided. Beer, wine and etc. available for purchase. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner and end of week closing.
Evening:
Walking back to the hotel, we’ll have a closing slideshow that will end by 9:00 p.m.
Activity Note
Shuttle departs at 9:00 a.m., arriving at Portland airport 10:00 a.m. Allow 90 minutes for check-in security clearance. Hotel check-out 12:00 Noon.
Breakfast:
In the adjacent restaurant. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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